The future is looking bright with exciting QBE Sydney Swans Academy players Emily McCallum, Emily Hollingsworth, and Bella Evans earning All-Australian selection following standout performances in the 2025 U16 Marsh AFL National Development Championships.

The QBE Academy U16 side had a successful campaign, defeating Tasmania by 34 points and Northern Territory by 54 points to secure the title. The win topped off a dominant 2025 for the age group with the team winning all five of their official fixtures for the Academy season which also included wins over GWS in the AFL Summer Series and over the Gold Coast and GWS in the Northern Academy series played earlier in the year.

Selection in the All-Australian side for the Swans trio was just-reward for consistent championships with bottom-ager Hollingsworth starring in her first national championships, dominating the Pool B matches. She averaged 19.5 disposals, kicked five goals over her two matches and was named the Best and Fairest in Pool B.

McCallum was named the team's MVP after a consistent campaign playing ruck and forward while Evans was impressed in both games, running hard off the half-back.

QBE Sydney Swans Academy U16 coach Bronwyn Gulden was named coach of the championships and is the first-ever Pool B coach to be named as an All-Australian coach.

The All-Australian coach said she was incredibly proud of her players for their efforts this season.

"I am very proud of a talented group of young girls who continued with their great form finishing as the U16 Champions," Gulden said.

"Their ability to react to differences each game whilst trusting our brand and method of playing showed real maturity. Paramount to the success was the distribution of talent across the whole squad, their belief in each other and willingness to play team footy."

The All-Australian team and best and fairests were selected by Kevin Sheehan (AFL talent ambassador), Paul Hamilton (AFL national talent development and competitions manager), Jess Smith (AFL national female talent manager), Tarkyn Lockyer (AFL national academy manager), Ben Waller and Abby Howard (Geelong), Tyson Bourke (GWS), Thomas Waldron (Gold Coast) and Darryn Fry (Fremantle).